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Year 8

Geological timescales

I can explain how geological time is divided, and identify the current period and epoch we live in.

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New
New
Year 8

Geological timescales

I can explain how geological time is divided, and identify the current period and epoch we live in.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geological timescales are measured in millions of years.
  2. A period is a basic unit of geological time and they last for millions of years.
  3. An epoch is a subdivision of a geological time period.
  4. We are currently in the quaternary period in the holocene epoch.

Keywords

  • Geological time - the timeline of Earth’s history

  • Eon - the largest division of geological time, lasting hundreds of millions to billions of years

  • Era - a subdivision of an eon, lasting tens to hundreds of millions of years

  • Period - a subdivision of an era, lasting millions of years

  • Epoch - the smallest measurement of geological time, a subdivision of a period, lasting thousands to millions of years

Common misconception

Geological timescales go back as far as human history.

Geological timescales are much greater than human history.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Geological timescales, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could teach students to remember the order of the older geological time divisions with the mnemonic: Camels, Often, Sit, Down, Carefully. Perhaps, Their, Joints, Creak.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is geology the study of?
Stars and planets
Correct answer: Rocks, Earth’s structure, and history
Plants and animals
Oceans and rivers
Q2.
Why is geology important for understanding Earth’s past?
It helps us study the dinosaurs
Correct answer: It helps us understand how continents formed
It tells us about the weather
It focuses only on rocks
Q3.
What is Earth's outermost layer called?
Core
Mantle
Correct answer: Crust
Atmosphere
Q4.
What do we call molten rock that erupts from a volcano?
Magma
Correct answer: Lava
Ash
Q5.
What are rocks made of?
Metal
Correct answer: Minerals
Plastic
Q6.
How many main types of rock are there?
1
2
Correct answer: 3
4

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a geological timescale?
A timeline of human history
A clock used by geologists
Correct answer: A timeline showing Earth’s history
A tool for measuring earthquakes
Q2.
What is the longest unit of geological time?
Era
Epoch
Correct answer: Eon
Q3.
Which eon are we living in now?
Hadean
Correct answer: Phanerozoic
Proterozoic
Q4.
How far back do geological timescales go?
A few thousand years
As far as written human history
Correct answer: Millions to billions of years

Additional material

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